Tobacco ash receptacle



July 8, 1941. T. M. DICK ET AL 2,248,163

TOBACCO ASH RECEITACLE Filed May 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 8, 1941. T. M. DICK ETAL TOBACCO ASH RECEPTACLE Filed May 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R 0 MM E Nv 7 Patented July 8, 1941 TOBACCO ASH RECEPTACLE Talbert M. Dick and Maurice J. Fletcher, Des Moines, Iowa, assignors to Talbert M. Dick, as trustee for Cadet Smoke Stand Company, a common-law trust, doing business at Des Moines, Iowa Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,226

14 Claims.

The principal object of our invention is to pro-, vide a tobacco ash receptacle of the trap door type that has its trap door rigidly secured to A further object of this invention is topro-.

vide a trap door type tobacco ash receptacle of rigid simplified construction and inherent sturdiness.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a tobacco ash receptacle of trap door type wherein the trap door may be made of any size to accommodate an opening of a large area in the hopper top, the trap door being so constructed that it is reinforced its entire length.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco ash receptacle having a directly driven trap door which is held in its centiial position by the use of novel swedge portions on the operation shafts coupled with key hole slots in the journal portions of the top hopper cover.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a tobacco ash receptacle having detachable bail handle member so designed as to flt the urn portion and be received by notches cut in the top hopper cover so that the operating handle shafts will always be correctly aligned at right angles to the bail handle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco ash receptacle whereby the ferrules used as spacers between the tube and um and between the tube and base lock when the smoke stand is assembled, increasing the footing of the tubing and rigidly holding the tube, base and um in rigid alignment, thereby increasing the strength of this structure.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a tobacco ash receptacle that is extremely economical in manufacture, pleasing in appearance, durable and efficient in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our .invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully ,set forth, pointed out in our claims and illusthe notches in the cover and the bail handle attachment holes or slots.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom elevational view of one of the engaging ears formed on the bail handle member.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the engaging ears of the bail handle member.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the cover and trap door mechanism of our tobacco ash receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a bottom elevational view of the cover and trap door mechanism and more fully illustrates its construction. 1

. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the trap door showing the spring retaining movement and is taken on the line H of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the trap door operating shafts showing the swedge portion.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the shaft elements taken on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the hopper top or cover showing the bearing hole cut therein.

There are a great number of tobacco ash receptacles or smoke stands on the market of the trap door type. These trap door types of smoke stands now in use present many diiliculties in .manufacture and are structurally inemcient.

Some of the disadvantages of the present'trap' door tobacco ash receptacles are that the trap operating mechanism is of complicated structure employing a multiplicity of parts and due to the complication of parts, the mechanisms are too weak structurally to permit the use of a large hopper receiving opening. Some of the ash receptacles rely on push button type of control, others rely on complicated rotary controls of various types. These trap mechanisms easily become gummed with the combustion residue from cigars or cigarette stubs and are rendered inoperative unless kept continually cleaned or repaired.

Those ash receptacles using a more or less direct type of drivers do not have their mechanism journaled in the top'cover member and are continually shifting in the shaft allowing the trap to be partially opened. This shift of the operating levers is very undesirable as it makes the trap mechanism hard to operate under certain conditions. Furthermore, the method of placing the returning spring on the trap door. mechanism allows the spring to shift, causing a loss of power and consequent leakage of smoke about the trap door and out through the hopper opening. In the case of receptacles having bail handle members, they do not have a method of aligning the operating handles so that they do not foul when operating the trap door operating mechanism. Furthermore, the joining of the various components of the tobacco ash receptacle has always presented a problem; The joining of a tube or like supporting column to the base and tray portion of the device having oil-set rim l2 formed about its lower marginal edge for the purpose of securing a frictional fit of the top onto the open portion of the um and evenly limiting its downward movement on the urn. We have used the numeral l3 to designate slots cut in the urn or receptacle diagonally opposite each other near the upper rim of the urn. The numerals l4 and I5 designate notches cut in the rim portion l2 of the top i l and so cut that they will normally rest adjacent the slots l3 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. We have used the numeral iii to designate a bail handle member of semi-circular shape and having each of its ends bent inwardly to form the lugs I1 and 13. These v lug portions are flattened and have a tongue portion i9 formed on their extremities. The numeral 23 indicates shoulders formed on each of the lugs I! and I8 adjacent the tongue portion I9 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. In use one of the tongues I 9 of the bail I3 is inserted in one of the slots l3 until the shoulders 20 contact the outer surface of thereceptacle Ill. The other end of the bail- I6 is then received by the slot diagonally opposite the slot I3 which securely fastens the bail handle to the urn. The notches I4 embrace the flattened portions l1 and I8 of the bail [6, thereby holding the top cover II in a predetermined position relative to the receptacle l3 and preventing rotation of the top relative to the urn. The numeral 2| indicates an inwardly and downwardly sloping upper tray within the top II as shown in Fig. 6. The lower portion of this tray has an opening 22 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7. The numeral 23 designates a trap door positioned below and adjacent the opening 22 and normally contacting the lower edges of the opening 22. Formed on one side along the entire marginal edge of the trap door 23 is a lip 24. The numeral 25 designates a handle or actuating means external of the top I l which is cupped to facilitate easy manual manipulation as shown. The numeral 26 indicates a rod integrally on the handle member 25 extending through a bearing hole 21 in the top H and having its inner end secured within the lip portion 24 of the trap door 23 as shown in Fig. '1. The numeral 23 designates a slot cut adjacent and entering the bearing hole 21 as shown in Fig. 11. We have used the numeral 29 to designate a swedge formed on the rod 26 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 33 designates a handle member which has integrally formed thereon a rod 3| normally bearinged in a hole cut in the top H similar to the bearing hole 21. This hole has a slot '32 adjacent and entering into this hearing hole as shown in Fig. 6. The numeral 33 designates a swedge portion or lug integrally formed on the rod 3| as shown in the drawings. We have used the numeral 34 to designate a coil spring wound about the rod 3| and having one end extending outwardly and up-- wardly to rest against the inside upper surface of the hopper top II. This end of the spring 34 is adjacent the lip 24 as shown in Fig. '7. We have used the numeral 35 to designate a loop formed in the end of the trap door 23 for receiving the other end of the spring 34.

The advantages of this trap door construction are numerous. From an assembly standpoint, the rods 26 and 3! are turned so that the swedged lugs 29 and 33 respectively will enter the slots 23 and 32 of the bearing holes 21. The ends of the rods are then welded or otherwise secured to the lip 24 of the trap door 23. The relationship of the swedges or lugs 29 and 33 relative to the slots 23 and 32 respectively are such that when once the rods are welded to the lip of the trap door, the lugs or swedges will never, during the operation of the trap door, coincide with the slots 23 and 32. These lugs 29 and 33 then serve to keep the handle operating members centered and prevent the shifting of the trap door out of position. They eliminate the use of separate ferrules, complicated bearings and the like and perform their function without adding to the construction material used.

By having the spring 34 wound as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings and by the use of the loop 35 which is stamped in the trap door 23, the spring is locked in position. The loose inner end cannot turn or become displaced during.the operation of the trap door because it is held in place by the shoulder formed in extending the lip 24 from the trap door 23. The loop 35 secures the loose end of the spring and retains the whole spring in position relative to the trap door. The notches l4 and I5 by embracing the flattened portions of the lugs l1 and I3 of the bail handle member l3, assure the position of the handle members 25 and 33 so that they will not have become fouled on the bail handle member and will be aligned parallel to the bail handle member.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, we have used the numeral 36 to designate the base portion of our tobacco ash receptacle which may be stamped of a suitable material. The numeral 3! designates the tube or standard of our device. We have used the numeral 33 to designate ferrules each having stamped therein a socket portion 39 which is of over-all depth of the complete ferrule as shown in Fig. 2. These ferrules are forced on either end of the tube 31 and are imposed between the receptacle I 0 and the tube 31 on the upper end and between the base 36 and the tube 31 on the lower end. We have used the numeral 40 to indicate a threaded headed rod extending through the longitudinal length of the tube 31 through holes in the ferrules 33, the bottom of the receptacle l0 and the top of the base 33 as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 4| designates a threaded nut threaded onto the upper end of the rod 40. By this construction, it will be noted that when the receptacle ill, the ferrules 38, the tube 31, and base 36 are in position and the rod is placed through them as shown and the nut ll is tight-,- ened, the skirt portion of the ferrules will contact the lower surface of the urn l8 and the upper surface of the base 36. As the nut 4| is tightened, the socket portions 39 of the ferrules 38 will be forced against the urn or against the base thus causing the upper periphery end of the socket 39 to the crimped onto the tube 31. By this construction, the ferrules 38 serve two definite purposes. They clamp against the tube 31, preventing any chance of its spreading when seamed or butt-joint tubing is used, and they act as lock washers between the urn and tube and between the tube and base respectively, making a rigid assembly. Furthermore, the ferrules 38 act as buttresses, giving a greater surface area and leverage at the points of contact by increasing the radial span of the joint between the urn and tube and between the base and tube. Thus it will be seen that we have provided a tobacco ash receptacle having a direct acting trap door inherently journaled in the top cover of the receptacle and having inherently formed lugs or swedeges to prevent the shifting of the trap door assembly within the cover and which has a spring assembly inherently locked against undesirable movement relative to the trap door assembly. Thus all of the desirable functions desired in a trap door type of top is accomplished with a minimum of materials by making every part serve several functions and by carefully planning the assembly features of the top. Furthermore, we have provided a top which is held in the desired position between the bail handle member preventing the unwanted rotation of the top and eliminating subsequent fouling of the operating handles on the bail handle. It will also be noted that we have provided a ferrule for locking the standard assembly to the base and the urn that serves the functions of being a decorative ferrule, a buttress, a lock washer and which also serves as a clamp for maintaining the rigidity of the column standard. We have therefore fulfilled all of our objects and in addition have provided a tobacco ash receptacle structure of simple design possessing a great number of desirable features not hitherto found in tobacco ash receptacle construction.

By our ferrule and tube construction, we provide an extremely rigid structure. Even if the nut 4| is somewhat loosened, the structure will still be rigid due to the slight spring or yielding action of the ferrules. As will be noted in Fig. 2, the receiving sockets of the ferrules extend almost the entire depth of the ferrules, but the bottoms of the socket portions of these ferrules are just slightly shy of the plane of the outer edge of the ferrules. This resultant springing action not only holds the structure taut but tends to bind the ends of. the tube l3 in the ferrules sockets which even before assembling of the threaded rod 40 provide a tight fit due to the socket walls of the ferrules being substantially vertical as shown in 'Fig. 2. This spring structure action also yieldingly prevents the accidental loosening of the nut ll of the rod 40. All of the parts of our device are made from suitable sheet metal by stamping and binding except the handle and rod members 26 and 3|, the spring 34, the rod 40, and its nut 4|, and the ball "5. The wedge portions on ends of the spring bail l6 may be slightly tapered as shown in Fig. and Fig. 4 in order that they will have a tendency to wedge in the slot openings l3 of the urn. As the urn has a tendency to hold the two. ends of the bail apart, these ends of the bail will tend to spring inwardly in the receiving slots l3 of the urn as far as they can go and it is obvious that as they wear and as the slots l3 wear, such wear will be compensated for by the further penetration of these ends of the balls into the slot openings l3. By this structure, the bail will always be detachably rigidly secured to the urn without any annoying looseness or movement relative to the urn. The inward spring action of the ball will also have a tendency to slightly spring these sides of the urn inwardly, thereby yieldingly binding the top H to the urn against accidental detachment. The off-set rim portion l5 of the lid provides a shoulder for engagement with the top rim of the um and by looking the shafts 26 and 3| in a plane above this created shoulder, the lid cannot be forced downwardly to a position where the upper edge of the urn will touch or engage these shafts and interfere with the function of the device. By the lip 24 being of maximum length, the ends of the trap door are thereby being properly supported and held against bending or distortion. This is an important feature of this smoke stand. When this lip portion 24 is secured to the shafts 26 and 3|, the shafts 26 and 3| to all intents and purposes form a single shaft rod extending horizontally, completely through the li H. The end of the spring 34 loosely extends through the arch 35 and naturally reciprocates freely under this arch when the trap door is operated, thereby permitting the operation of the spring without binding. The openings 28 preferably extend downwardly-and forwardly as shown in Fig.

6 and the lugs or swedges 29 and 33 preferably are positioned to the rear of the handle rods 26 and 3| when the trap door is in a closed position as shown in Fig. 7. By this arrangement and due to the curvature of the lid II, the rods 26 and 3| will be capable of a minimum of reciprocation when the trap door is in a closed position and will have greater reciprocation when the trap door is in an open position.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of our improved tobacco ash receptacle without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim: 7

1. In a smoke stand, a receptacle, a hopper top on said receptacle having an opening in its central portion, journal holes cut in said top, a slot in said top adjacent each of said holes and entering thereinto, rods journaled in said Journal openings, a swedge portion on each of said rods capable of entering said slots, handle members formed on the outer ends of each-of said rods, a trap door rigidly secured to the inner ends of said rods and capable of closing said opening in said hopper top at times, a spring about one of said rods adjacent said trap door and a loop member formed on said trap door and at one end of said spring.

2. In a device of the class described, an urn open at its top, diametrically opposed slots cut adjacentthe upper rim of said urn, a handle bail capable of engaging said slots, a hopper top member having an opening in its center-and capable of embracing the upper open end of said urn, notches cut in the lower rim portion of said hopper top for embracing said handle bail, when said handle ball is received by said slots.

3. In a tobacco ash receptacle, an urn portion having its upper end open, slots cut diametrically opposite from each other in the upper portion of said urn, a handle bail member, a tongue portion on each end of said handle bail capable of being received by said slots respectively, shoulders formed on each end portion of said ball and adjacent each tongue portion for holding said handle bail in a pre-determined position relative to said urn, a hopper top designed to embrace the upper open end of said urn having an opening in its lower central portion, a means for preventing the rotation of said hopper top on said urn, an ofl-set rim on said hopper top for holding said top in pre-determinedrelation relative to said urn, a trap door mechanism rotatably mounted in said hopper top and designed to close said opening at times, and a means for actuating said trap door.

4. In a tobacco ash receptacle, an urn portion, a hopper top designed to embrace the upper open end of said urn portion, an off-set flange on said hopper top for engaging the upper peripheral edge of said urn, journal holes cut in the side portions of said hopper top, slots cut in'said hopper top adjacent to and entering into said journal holes; said journal holes and said slots being cut to one side of the diametrical center of said hopper top, a rod rotatably mounted in each of said journal holes, a trap door for closing the opening in said hopper top and secured to said rods for securing said rods together, a swedge portion on each of said rods capable of entering said slots adjacent said journal holes when said rods are introduced into said hopper top; said swedge portion normally engaging the inner walls of said hopper top for limiting the reciprocation of said rod element in both directions, a handle member formed on the outer portions of each of said rod elements, an opening in the center portion of said hopper top, a trap door designed to close the opening in said hopper at times and a means for yieldingly holding said trap door in a closed position. I

5. In an ash receptacle, a receptacle, a top element on said receptacle having an opening communicating with the inside of said receptacle, a journal hole cut in said top element, a slot in said top element adjacent said journal hole and communicating with the same, a rod journalled in said opening, a swedge portion on said rod capable of passing through said slot and engaging the inner side of said top element, a handle on the outer end of said rod, a trap door secured to said rod and capable of closing the opening in said top element at times, and a spring member for yieldingly holding said trap door in a position for closing said opening in said top element 'attimes.

6. In an ash receptacle, a receptacle, a hopper top on said receptacle having an opening communicating with the inside of said receptacle, two journal holes cut in the side wall portion of said hopper top, a slot in said hopper top'adjacent each of said journal holes and communicating with the same, a rod element extending into each of said journal holes and toward each other, a swedge portion on each of said rods capable of being passed through said slots for engagement with the inner side wall of said hopper top, a handle rigidly secured to the inner end portions of said rods and capable of closing said opening in said hopper top at times, and a means for yieldingly holding said trap door in one direction of its movement.

7. In an ash receptacle, a receptacle, a detachable hopper top on said receptacle having an opening communicating with the inside of said receptacle, two journal holes cut in the side wall portion of said hopper top, a rod element extending into each of said journal holes and toward each other, a handle on the outer end of one of said rod elements, a trap door rigidly secured to the inner end portions of said rods and capable of closing said opening in said hopper top at times, a means for yieldingly holding said trap door in one direction of its movement, an offset shoulder on said hopper top for engaging the upper marginal rim edge of said receptacle whereby said hopper top will be limited in its downward movement relative to said receptacle and will prevent thereby said rod elements from engaging and binding on the upper marginal rim edge of said receptacle,- and a means on one of said rod elements for limiting its outward sliding movement relative to said hopper top.

on the outer end of each of said rods, a trap door 8. In a device of the class described, an urn portion having its upper end open and capable of having its upper end portion yieldingly distorted under pressure; said urn having two openings near its upper marginal edge, a hopper top member having an opening communicating with the inside of said um and detachably embracing the upper end portion of said urn, a spring handle bail member having its two end portions entering said two openings of said urn; said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said urn for slightly distorting the same and so binding it with said hopper top as to prevent its accidental detachment from said hopper top, two notches cut in the lower rim portion of said hopper top member for embracing the two end portions of said spring handle bail member, a horizontal operating shaft journalled through said hopper top member having its longitudinal axis extending between said two notches, a handle member on the outer end of said operating shaft, a trap door element secured to said shaft and capable of closing the opening in said hopper top member at times, a means for yieldingly holding said trap door in a closed position; said notches in said hopper top member embracing the two end portions of said handle bail member and thereby holding the handle on said operating shaft a substantial distance from the end portions of said bail member whereby said handle member may be manually operated without engagement with said bail member.

9. In an ash receptacle, a receptacle, 9. detachable hopper top on said receptacle having an opening communicating with the inside of said receptacle, two journal holes cut in the side wall portion of said hopper top, a rod element extending into each of said journal holes and toward each other, a handle on the outer end of one of said rod elements, a trap door rigidly secured to the inner end portions of said rods and capable of closing said opening in said hopper top at times, a coil spring around one of said rod elements having its outer end portion that is closest to the side wall of said detachable hopper top engaging said trap door and its inner end portion engaging the under side of said hopper top,

Y ing the upper marginal rim edge of said receptacle whereby said hopper top will be limited in its downward movement relative to said receptacle and will prevent thereby said rod elements from engaging and binding on the upper marginal rim edge or said receptacle, and a means on' one of said rod elements for limiting its outward sliding movement relative to said hopper top,

10. In a device of the class described, an urn portion having its upper end open and capable 01' having its upper end portion yieldingly distorted under pressure, a hopper top member having an opening communicating with the inside of said um and detachably embracing the upper end portion of said urn, a spring handle bail member having its two end portions operatively engaging the upper end portion ofsaid urn; said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said urn for slightly distorting the same and so binding it with said hopper top as to prevent the accidental detachment of said hopper top from said urn, two notches formed in the lower rim portion of said hopper top member for embracing the two end portions 01' said spring handle bail member, a horizontal shaft journaled through said hopper top member having its longitudinal axis extending between said two notches, a handle member on the outer end of said operating shaft, a

trapdoor element secured to said shaft and capable of closing the opening in said hopper top -member at times, a means for yieldingly holding said trapdoor in a closed position; said notches in said hopper top member embracing the two end portions of said handle bail member and thereby holding the handle on said operating shaft a substantial distance from the end portions of said bail member whereby said handle member may be manually operated without undesirable engagement with said ball member.

11; In a device of the class described, an urn portion having its upper and open and capable of having its upper end portion yieldingly distorted under pressure, a hopper top member having an opening communicating with the inside of said um and detachably embracing the upper end portion of said urn, a spring handle bail member having its two end portions operatively engaging the upper end portion of said urn; said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said urn for slightly distorting the same and so binding it with said hopper top as to prevent the accidental detachment of said hopper top from said urn, two notches formed in the lower rim portion of said hopper top member for embracing the two end portions of said spring handle bail member, a horizontal shaft iournaled through said hopper top member having its longitudinal axis extending between said two notches, a handle member on the outer end of said operating shaft, a trapdoor element secured to said shaft and capable of closing the opening in said hopper top member at times, a coil spring around said I operating shaft having its outer end portion that is closest to the side wall of said hopper top engaging said trapdoor and its inner end portion engaging the underside of said hopper top; said notches in said hopper top member embracing the two end portions of said handle bail member and thereby holding the handle on said operating shaft a substantial distance from the end portions of said ball member whereby said handle member may be manually operated without undesirable engagement with said bail member. 12. In an ash receptacle, a receptacle having 7 its upper end open and capable of having its upper end portion yieldingly distorted under pressure, a hopper top member having an opening communicating with the inside of said receptacle and detachably embracing the upper end portion of said receptacle, a'spring handle bail member having its two end portions operatively engaging the upper portion of said receptacle; said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said receptacle for slightly distorting the same and so binding it with said hopper top as to prevent the accidental detachment of said hopper top-from said receptacle, two notches formed in the lower rim portion of said hopper top member for embracing the two end portions of said spring handle bail member, a rod element joumaled through said hopper top member and extending between said two notches, a handle on the outer end of said rod element, a trapdoor rigidly secured to said rod element and capable of closing said opening in said hopper top at times, a means for yieldingly holding said trapdoor in one direction of its movement, an offset shoulder on said hopper top for engaging the upper marginal rim edge 01' said receptacle whereby said hopper top will be limited in its downward movement relative to said receptacle and will prevent thereby said rod element from engaging and binding on the upper marginal rim edge of said receptacle, and a means on said rod for limiting its outward sliding movement relative to said hopper t'op.

l3. Ina device of the class described, an urn portion having its upper end open and capable of having its upper end portion yieldingly distorted under pressure, a hopper top member having an opening communicating with the inside of said um and detachably embracing the upper end portion of said urn, a spring handle bail member having its two end portions operatively engaging the upper portion of said urn at points diametrically opposite from each other,

said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said urn for slightly distorting the same and sobinding it with said hopper top member as to prevent the accidental detachment of said hopper .top member from said urn, a trapdoor element operatively hingedly secured to said hopper top member and capable of closing the opening in said hopper top member at times, a means for yieldingly holding tively engaging the upper portion of said urn at points diametrically opposite from each other; said spring handle bail member exerting a pressure on the upper portion of said urn for slightly distorting the same and so binding it with said opper top member as to prevent the accidental detachment of said hopper top member from said urn, two notches cut in the lower rim portion of said hopper top member for embracing the two end portions of said spring handle bail member and preventing the independent rotation of said hopper top member relative to said spring handle bail member and said urn, a. trapdoor eiement operativeiy hinzcdiy secured to said opper top member and capable of closing the opening in said hopper top member at times, a means for yieldinzly holding said trapdoor in a closed position, and means to facilitate the manual opening of said trapdoor at times.

TAIBliiRT M. DICK. MAURICE J. FLETCHER. 

